What I Wore & Being 4 Years Old

It's the middle of another week and I saw this cute pic...

 This is what I am reminding myself or right now. Hubby has been down and out for 2 days with the stomach flu, I think its the same one Nicole has last week. When he's out Mom has to step up and do everything, it can wear on you but I know its temporary. Hopefully the medicine he got will help him feel better.

 Like the rest of America, I am loving the NBC hit show This is Us, especially Milo Ventimiglia who plays the Dad Jack. Obviously he is super hot, but I love seeing a man on TV playing a loving husband and great father. His character loves big and is romantic while having old fashioned values. You don't see that so much anymore on TV, I think its great!!

And I also think its a great representation of a lot of men in my life I know who are great Daddy's, Husband's, & Granddaddy's!!

 I got some new Valentine's tee's I wanted to share, this one came from the Etsy shop Southerly Made and I love it!! It sparkles too, wearing my heart on me tee :-)

The weather the last couple of days has been a foggy, gray and rainy, not too much fun! But even though its February I am still rocking my white pants, I paired them with this olive green tunic from Walmart, under $10 bucks and my leopard flats, a very comfy outfit!

To help lift my Falcons broken heart and gray weather I wore this new Lilly P skirt from Sarta Designs and I love it!! She makes her own skirts, its got an elastic waist (hello 2 kids!!) and its WAY cheaper then a Lilly skirt. I hope to buy more skirts from her, it even has pockets!

This oldie but goodie gray dress came from Target about 3 years ago on sale for $8..at Target!! That never happens and its a dress I enjoy wearing over and over again. I paired it with my black vest and new black necklace I got off Ebay for $2. Taylor thought it would be funny to pull my other one and you can imagine what happened next...beads everywhere.

If you follow along with the blog you have seen this Lilly P dress a lot, its so pretty but I paired it with a navy vest and I love it. I think this navy color will go with a lot of my little stuff during the colder months.

This was one of the first Lilly P shirts I got, my Mom got it for me when we went shopping at River Road Pharmacy in Columbus, GA. Its so cheerful and pretty, I paired it with my monogram necklace. I think Mom and me need to be making another Starbucks/River Road trip soon!!

You may have noticed in the pictures above the beautiful Valentine tassel bracelet I have been wearing all month, its from my favorite Etsy shop Dixie Delights! I know have the St. Patrick's Day, Halloween and Christmas bracelet. Amanda and her Mother make them from Savannah and I LOVE them. I paired it with this LOVE tee and red cardigan from Walmart.

I took this picture while washing my face before bed, Nicole and Hubby where snoozing already and she asked if she could stay up an play while I got ready for bed. These moments are what I love so much about her being 4. She will sit there and play with her toys and talk to them, I love hearing her imagination at play. Its a precious time in her life, I know one day she will not want to stay in the same room as me, in fact she will probably prefer to stay in her own room with the door shut. But for right now, she always wants to be with Mommy or Daddy and play, this makes me so happy!! As George Straight sang "you are the miracle that makes my lift complete" XOXO

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies, remember this scene with the stain glass? There are some pictures in my room I have been wanting to update, they are all over baby Taylor, so cute but Nicole is not in any of them, don't want her feeling left out! So I came up with a little project idea using this stain glass, stay tuned!

 

Valentine Decor Around our Home

Welcome to our Valentine Home Tour!! Like all of my seasonal decor it takes me a while to get it all out, but I have got a lot done in February so far that I wanted to share with you, I hope you LOVE it!

I ordered this heart door hanger from The Pink Speckled Frog about 2 years ago and its held up great! The heart border came from Oriental Trading and I like to use my poinsettias cause of their bright red color, so pretty anytime of year!

Updating our mantel is always one of my favorite things, I kept some items I had out for my January mantel, cause its still winter. But I added the heart wreath, red bow, Love garland and a little love sign from Walmart.

 This heart banner also came from Walmart, $1...SCORE!!

I like displaying our Daddy Daughter Date Night pictures on this table, along with my new Coton Colors Happy Everything plate and attachment my MIL gifted me with. The red heart plate came from Home Goods a few years ago.

 Here is a close up of all our pics thru the years so far, I am waiting on this years to arrive in the mail. I just pick up these little plastic frames at Walmart and put heart stickers on them.

 And here is a close up of the other side with my Happy Everything plate, I love this!! Coton Colors has som many great things, but beware they are not cheap!

 I started working on my hot chocolate bar, I've gotten this half done. I hung up another heart banner and put some artificial flowers in a pink plastic mason jar pitcher.

 Taylor was in the valentine spirit this morning with her heart top and leggins! 

 I snapped this pic of Taylor while rocking Nicole to bed, I love looking up and seeing her smiling, she loves Peppa Pig!

 My February Lilly P print, isn't it pretty?! I have a few more Valentine decorations to put out, I will share soon!!

Still Proud of The Falcons & Daddy Daughter Date Night

I always try to be really positive on the blog because I have so much to be positive about and really, who wants to read about people complaining?! But just for a minute I am feeling more like this today...

 As most of the nation saw, our beloved Falcons got beat in an OT comeback from the Patriots. They started off so good and strong, but they unfortunately didn't finish up that way. It was hard to watch and many Falcons fans are feeling like this picture above :-(

But, even this heartbreaking loss can't take away a shocking and great season by the Falcons team, coaches and MVP, Matt Ryan. We are all still proud of our home town team, they brought together many people who cheer for the underdog. They are young, super talented, and now know how far they can really go. GO FALCONS!!!

On a happier note, along with the Superbowl it was Chick Fil A's Daddy Daughter Date Night!!

This was Hubby's 5th one, can you believe it?!

 Sweet Taylor is ready for her date night!

 How much do I love this picture?!! Look at Coco's face!!

 My three loves are ready for their date!! I got the girls matching outfits from Screamingowl.com. I have mentioned them before, super cute outfits but long ship dates so just think ahead!!

 Hubby took some pics at CFA, look at that beautiful tiara! They also got a gift package with a free chicken nugget meal and they had ballerina's there!

 Group selfie!!

 While they were out on date night, I fixed myself some vanilla ice cream with Magic Shell and watched one of my favorite 80's movies, Girls Just Want to Have Fun!! It was so nice to be able to sit for an entire hour and not have to get up or get something for someone...SCORE!!

They each got a beautiful carnation and tiara, so sweet!

 My pretty princesses XOXO

And because I try to mask my pain with some humor....

 And even though they won the Superbowl, it didn't stop my Falcons from sacking pretty boy Brady over and over again!!!

 RISE UP!

Happy Groundhog Day & Italian Nachos

Down here in GA we only take weather predictions from one groundhog, General Beauregard Lee who lives at the Yellow River Game Ranch! He has his own antebellum mansion and has a 94% accurate reading in the past! General Lee is 17 this year, way past the 7-8 year life span other groundhogs seems to have. I think there is even a trumpet that plays when he comes out! According to the AJC, General Lee  has received honorary doctorates from the University of Georgia (in “Weather Prognostication”) and Georgia State University (a “Doctor of Southern Groundhogology”).  He’s also been honored by the National Weather Service twice for his reliable forecasts. Lucky for us he said spring is coming early this year, we can't wait! Except for that AC bill :-)

We celebrated the big holiday with some groundhog pancakes, yum!!

These pancakes are super easy and fun, I found the design from Dixie Delights, but there are all kinds of groundhog day designs on Pinterest. I prepared them all with one hand AKA holding Nicole the entire time, Mom's have superpowers you know!

That is Daddy and Taylor under those masks! I got them last year at Oriental Trading. Nicole ran the other way when Daddy put it on!!

The girls had their Superbowl Party at school today, I filled these red bags with some Little Debbie brownies, yum!

Here they are ready to party in their red and black, GO FALCONS!!

This week I fried up some won ton strips to create this nacho dish...

They turned out really good!! I found the reciepe from Jennifer at Dimples and Tangles, if you are looking for a new twist on nachos, especially for the big game try these out:

Ingredients
12 oz. package of won ton wraps Shredded mozzarella cheese Cooked, shredded chicken Cooked, crumbled Italian sausage (could substitute cooked, crumbled breakfast sausage) Alfredo sauce (jar or home-made) Sliced jalapeño peppers Sliced pepperocini peppers Diced tomatoes Sliced black olives Shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

-Begin by slicing each section of won tons into thirds.  Cut this way, this package makes enough dinner plate sized servings for 6 people. 

  -Heat up an inch or two of oil in a deep pot.  You'll want it hot enough to brown the won tons fairly quickly.  Drop each piece in one by one and let brown on one side before flipping over to brown the other side.  

-Remove from oil after golden brown and drain onto paper towels.  Check out that pile of golden, crunchy goodness!

-From here on out, the recipe can be made to your liking.  I didn't include amounts of the other ingredients, because you just load everything onto the chips according to what or how much you want like any nacho recipe.

Using an oven-proof plate, spread chips out then start layering the other ingredients.  I usually start with the mozzarella cheese, then the meats (all chicken, all sausage, or combo), then drizzle with warm Alfredo sauce.  Then I add the rest of the ingredients and top it off with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. 

 Wishing you all a fun and relaxing weekend, I know the world will be tuning into the game Sunday night, as an Atlanta native this is something special for our state, we are so proud of the Falcons, lets go all the way!!!

Hello February & Simple Joys

I'm a little late (like usual) but Happy February!

This is one of my favorite months of the year! Lots of holiday's, family parties and my own birthday, PARTY TIME!!

My first day of February didn't go as smooth as I had hoped, I got a middle of the work day call from daycare...working parents you all know what this means, someone was sick.

Poor Nicole had a stomach bug and needed to be picked up. I left work to go get her and Taylor, once I got them I got a nasty phone call from a scam artist claiming to be the IRS. I was already frazzled from having to leave work and get Nicole so it really shook me up. I didn't realize it was a scam and he threatened to arrest me, not cool.

I called my Dad to tell him what happened and lets just say I think he had some choice words for that guy, or should I say snake. Anyway, I was not going to let this looser ruin my day. And I really want to focus on all the simple joys this week, cause I have a lot!!

 Mornings with out an alarm are always the best mornings. Getting to relax and watch TV with the girls is where its at.

 Last weekend while we were in Athens we stayed at Uncle David's and Aunt Karen's condo, I love this big light up star over the bed, so pretty at night!

 My oldest cousin Mindy had a birthday over the weekend, here we are back in the 80's with our matching Care Bares we got from the Easter Bunny. She is so funny and laughs at whatever life gives her, I really admire that. Happy Bday Mindy!

 Hubby picked us up some Jim N Nicks BBQ and its always a winner, especially those little muffins, I could pop those all day!!

 Brownies with sprinkles is always a yummy joy!

 After filing our taxes and Nicole not wanting to sleep, this is 100% TRUE.

Donna and I hit Chili's again for lunch, I got my usual potato soup but tried these new chicken and ranch quesadillas, very good!!

 I pass this farm everyday on my ride home and think the entrance is just gorgeous. I would like to see the inside one day!!

 Morning giggles!

 The first day of February means lots of red and pink!! Love these 2!

 I love anything Waylon Jennings sings, especially when its with his pal Willie.

 A new Quick Trip just opened up by my office, I stopped to get some gas and got an old time favorite, French Vanilla Cappuccino. My Mom and I love these, we use to always get them, so good and for less then $2 bucks its a SCORE!!

 We had a Super Bowl Party at work, its was so much fun and good! I made this yummy Paula Deen Italian Pasta Salad, everyone seems to enjoy it. Here is the her recipe if you want to give it a try:

Ingredients

• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1 lb bow tie pasta
• 1 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing, (store bought)
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2/3 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• grated Parmesan cheese, for topping

 

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the pasta cook it according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinaigrette, mayonnaise and sugar.

Drain the pasta well, transfer to a large serving bowl, and let cool. Add the tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, green pepper, salt, to taste and the black pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the cheese, toss lightly, and serve.

So of course you know I had to wear my Falcons red and black, RISE UP!!

 Check out all this food from the party, and this was just my first plate!

 And since this month is all about love, I really like this verse. Simple and true.